Play and Learning 7

Active play Active play is important to help your child grow, develop and stay healthy. As well as being fun, active play helps children:• learn about their bodies – to develop balance, strength and coordination• develop socially when they play actively with other children.

When it comes to active play:• babies love kicking, rolling, splashing in the bath, and being gently bounced, rocked and pulled up to

sit. At around 7 to 8 months, babies learn getting onto all fours, crawling, and rocking backwards and forwards. Then from around 9 to 11 months babies start pulling to stand and cruising around furniture. Babies usually learn to walk by 15 months.

• toddlers love exploring their world – climbing, jumping and tumbling. Everyday things like steps, doorways, grassy slopes, ride on toys, boxes, and furniture, are challenging and fun.

• young children move more confidently and enjoy challenges – riding trikes and bikes, visiting playgrounds, ball games, trampolines and swimming. With practice, they develop skills like jumping, climbing, swinging, sliding, balancing, lifting, pulling, pushing, throwing and catching.

What you can do• Screen time – children learn best in hands-on activities with you. Screen time is not recommended for children

younger than 2 years, and for children aged 2 to 5 years it is recommended that screen time is limited to less than one hour per day. Make the most of playtime – turn off all screens including phones, TVs and computers.

• Toddlers and young children should be busy and active for at least three hours every day.• Watch your child – help them move and play at the level that suits their level of development. Let them

go at their own pace.• Let them use you for support while learning about movement – bouncing on your lap, climbing over

your back, balancing on your crossed legs, you will feel how much support they need.• Let your child try new things during active play. Encourage and support them using positive words like

‘Hold on tight’ or ‘Look carefully’.• Allow time for repetition – your child will want to try a new skill over and over again.• Try new experiences – go to a different park, try new play equipment – so your child can try out

new challenges.

Some activities to tryRough and tumble play – bouncing, jumping, piggy back and shoulder rides, climbing onto your back and then gently rolling off, pretend wrestling. Explore different surfaces – grass, sand, carpet, indoor and outdoor playgrounds.

Movement games – statues, wheelbarrow races, ‘Simon says’, hide and seek, walking like animals, spinning, or action songs like ring-a-ring-a-rosie or hokey-pokey.

Ball games – rolling, bouncing, throwing, batting – use a variety of sizes and weights. For older toddlers balloons make good balls too! Play catch, skittles, football, soccer, basketball, or just chase bubbles.

Cardboard boxes – let you child stack them, sit inside and be pushed or pulled around, or fill with toys and ‘drive’ around. Take cardboard to a park and slide down a grassy slope.

Some activities to try CONTINUED

Pedal toys – sit on toys, tricycles, bicycles, scooters.

Playgrounds – visit your local park for play on swings, slides, see saws, climbing frames.

Trees – for climbing, swinging a rope.

Rugs, towels and bed sheets – good to roll your child up in, slide along the floor while child is sitting on top, or use to make a cubby house.

Old cushions – kneeling, standing, hiding – stack them to climb, or sit and balance on.

Sand play – digging, building, carrying buckets of sand, walking in the sand.

Water play – running through water, swimming, splashing, filling and emptying buckets.

This document can be made available in alternative formats on request for a person with a disability. This publication is provided for general education and information purposes. Contact a qualified healthcare professional for any medical advice needed. ©State of Western Australia, Child and Adolescent Health Service – Community Health, 2019 Produced by Child Development Service 2016, republished January 2019 CAH-000926

Keeping your child safe

• Supervise your child closely at all times, especially around water, play equipment, or when using objects such as scissors, pencils, glue or paint. Avoid flammable or toxic materials.

• Babies, toddlers and young children can choke on small toys and objects.• Provide enough hands on help to keep your child safe, but don’t be too overprotective.• Be SunSmart – make sure your child has adequate sun protection when playing outdoors.

Find out more

For more information on play, learning, and a range of other topics, visit:• www.healthywa.gov.au • www.raisingchildren.net.au• www.bringingupgreatkids.org